Bill > S286

Introduced Session

This bill provides that, subject to approval by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, the State Medicaid program is to include coverage for telepsychiatry, which provides for an exchange of information by telephone or other technologically assisted means in order to improve the mental health of adults and children under 19 years of age. Telepsychiatry is to be provided in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Human Services and at a reimbursement rate that is commensurate with the cost of providing those services in the State. To obtain the federal approval, the Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, is to apply for such State plan amendments or waivers as may be necessary to implement the provisions of the bill and to secure federal financial participation for State Medicaid expenditures under the federal Medicaid program. Presently, New Jersey is one of only 10 states that do not provide Medicaid reimbursements for telepsychiatry within the medical or clinical mental health community. Unacceptable wait times for individuals seeking appointments for mental health professional counseling or treatment in the State have been the subject of numerous articles in medical journals and media sources, which have described the limited access to adequate care and treatment as a "broken system." It is intended that Medicaid coverage and reimbursement for mental health services provided through telepsychiatry will reduce the wait times, improve access to mental health services, and attract more mental health professionals to practice in the State.

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Robert Gordon (D)*,  Joe Vitale (D)*,  Peter Barnes (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee (on 01/12/2016)